Thursday, June 15, 2017

Hinds County deputies arrested Jackson attorney Walter Zinn Friday night for a DUI. Zinn lost to Trent Kelly in a runoff to replace the 1st District Congressman Alan Nunnelee in a 2015 special election. He also served as a policy advisor to Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Sr.

Hinds County deputies conducted a roadblock at the intersection of Mayes and Lawson streets in Jackson. The police report states:

On Friday June 9, 2017 at approx 22:50, I Deputy Kimmons T-3 along with other deputies were conducting a safety checkpoint at Mayes/Lawson when a black Lexus LS460 approached our location at a high rate of speed traveling west on Mayes and almost ran over Deputy Williams X-36. The checkpoint location was in a lit area and emergency lights were activated. As I was making contact with the driver an AMR ambulance came up behind the Lexus and the driver stated that the Lexus had been driving reckless and almost hit them several times before arriving at the checkpoint. I asked the driver of the Lexus for his license and identified him as Walter Zinn. I could smell the strong odor of an intoxicating beverage emitting from inside the vehicle. I also observed several whiskey bottles in the back floorboard that had been open and were about half full. I had him pull off the side of the road, exit the vehicle, and walk to the rear.

Whiskey bottles, brand new cars...... but wait, there is nothing that will stop a cop like telling him you are a lawyer will. Saying those magic words will confer magic powers upon the shyster. Zinn tried to use this little Jedi mind trick on the police but discovered the hard way that the deputies were engorged with the dark side of The Force:

I observed that he had to brace against the car to maintain his balance. I also observed that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. I asked where he was coming from and he just stared at me but wouldn't answer the question. I asked how much alcohol he had drunk and he stated 1 drink earlier in the day but that he was fine to drive. I asked if he wanted to submit a breath sample into my PBT and he stated no that he wasn't going to. He then stated that he was a lawyer and that it was illegal from me to be doing what I was doing. I asked him to explain and he stated roadblocks can only be used to ask for driver's license and insurance. I advised him that it was legal for me to conduct a DUI
investigation based on the fact that he admitted to having drunk recently and that I could smell the odor of an intoxicating beverage emitting from inside the vehicle as well as his breath after he exited the vehicle. He then began naming several people he knew with the city of Jackson that could get him out of this. He also stated that he could get out of it because he was a lawyer. I asked if he wanted to take field sobriety tests and he stated that he wasn't going to.

All lawyers know that identifying yourself as an attorney at a traffic stop removes all sympathy with the law enforcement officers and actually adds double points to their credibility and many pats on the back in the police station. They will be talking about that arrest at the precinct for weeks to come.

Lets withhold judgement until we have ALL of the facts. Walter is a good man and I have a feeling that his version of events are probably different than this cops. It goes without saying that a black man driving a Lexus at night was most likely targeted by cops. I just thank god that Mr. Zinn wasn't beaten and/ or shot byt the police

Did you bother to read that this was a checkpoint set up on Mayes and Lawson Streets? They wren't looking for black men driving Lexi, they were looking for EVERYBODY driving ANY CAR on Mayes and Lawson Streets.

And it IS a good thing the deputies did not shoot him. It is also a good thing he did not run over the deputies.

Classic example of playing the race card TOO MUCH. Remember the story about the little boy that cried wolf. After a while, nobody listens any more.

@8:52am Seriously? So now being drunk and driving AND black leads to racist behavior by our police? We are so screwed! A bunch of brainwashed llamas roaming the earth. Even Tiger Woods fessed up, said he was on pain killers and took responsibility. He didn't even pull the "I'm Tiger Woods card." It's called respect for the law.

Oh and the AMR driver is probably racist too! Just wanted to see a black man taken to jail and may if he's lucky beaten. Nah he wasn't drunk.

8:52, I am sure you would want to withhold judgment on a white guy stopped by the cops who could stand up without bracing himself; reeking og alcohol; half empty bottles in back seat; and refusing to take field breather lier or field sobriety tests.

I'll wait to withhold when I see him treated like everybody else, put in the slammer overnight, forced to bail himself out, suspend his license. His being black;important or even thinking so; connected with politicos; all don't change the situation.

Where's his mug shot KF. Everybody else that gets arrested has a wonderful picture plastered over the media; did Zinn avoid this?

8:52. "Targeted by the cops". The sheriff is black, most of the deputies are black. The ambulance reported reckless driving before he was stopped, there were open liquor bottles in the car. Yep he was targeted because his actions before and after the stop put a big bullseye on him and his vehicle.

I said the same thing in another post, 'justice for trayvon' is a troll. I got blasted with 'duh, etc etc'. Glad to see others are catching on and not being received by smart asses. I now think the opposite, the person's mind is literally a frozen snowflake and they do believe what they post.

Local news media?? Crickets. This guy,, besides managing the Mayor-elects campaign was also a candidate himself - coming in second for Congress. TV and CL have put some folks on the front page with multiple stories -within hours. Guess because he's a black man driving a Lexus they'll give him a pass.

Cops do not care, no matter the situation.Like when Reese Witherspoon got stopped for drunk driving orLindsay Lohan's mom tried to get her 15-year-old daughter Pam into a night club.They'll Nail you just for spite.

"Zinn told the Jackson Free Press that his political career began when now-Sen. Roger Wicker's father, Thomas Wicker, encouraged Zinn to run for Boy's State, a youth leadership program for young men. Zinn says he was on a trajectory to become a Republican until the Sept. 11 attacks. Zinn disagreed with the policies of then-President George W. Bush in response to 9/11."

I guess when he decided not to join the Republican Party he decided to turn full radical by joining Lamumba et al.

Was this Zinn's first arrest? I, like another poster, never suspected he drank overmuch. Stressful times right now, but there are other methods of relieving stress. Hope he can get back on track. I have always found him level headed, and would like to see him stay with the incoming administration.

Zinn and the Art of Stupid. And no, Trust, I'm not JFT and not trolling, just adding my 2 cents worth like most others, but with a moniker humorously noting my status as a LONG time Jacksonian. Have to wonder about someone who thinks I'm a troll just because my comments may not align with theirs.

Hate to question anything from the JFP, but if Zinn didn't know the name of Roger Wicker's father (hint: it's not Thomas and the correct title includes the word Judge), then I doubt he had,any inclination of becoming a Republican. Maybe, but no 9-11 issues could move someone from Republican to Lumumba Sr (or Jr.)

I've actually known him since Boys' State and we lived on the same hall our freahman year at Millsaps. Getting a DUI is pretty dumb, which is out of character for him. I don't agree with most of his political views (other than when he helped Sen. Cochran beat McDaniel) but I've always felt he has had the best interests of Mississippi as the basis of what he's done. So stupid decision by a smart guy. Happens everyday.

Jeremy Litton, 7:12 am, i totally agree. He's definitely a great guy, he just needs to release a statement saying something to the effect of "I regret my actions...I never swallowed, only swooshed the alcohol around in my mouth and the intoxication was a result of porous absorption and exhaustion. If Republicans had not cut the budget for public transport, I could have taken the bus. The cops targeted me..." blah blah blah, you get the point.

To those who say he's a great guy who made a mistake, please rethink your stupid comments. He didn't make a mistake A mistake is an inadvertent accident, unintended.

And you people who talk about how cool he was at Boys State and Millsaps, how admirable it was for him to help Cochran win and that he had some sort of association with the Wicker family....your comments are exactly the basis and mindset for people throwing their weight around and think they ought to get off and escape a DUI. You think you must accompany your finger shaking at him with bullet points from his resume, as if that's worth a shit.

Still, this is not newsworthy no matter if he did attempt to hustle the cop. It's just more in a long series of blog subjects that go in the column of 'Ha Ha...Lookie here who got drunk!'

Who is the Hottest Reporter in Jackson?

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything). Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up. In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!